[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 159 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S11988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S11988]]
                          WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, this week we have watched on television the 
images of women in various places in Afghanistan, in cities, towns, 
running into the streets without male relatives and throwing away their 
burqas. I was here a week ago talking about how women were treated in 
Afghanistan. I brought with me the eyeshade they must wear, which is 
netting they can barely see out of and people can see nothing beyond. 
All over Afghanistan, women can wear these if they want, but they are 
not required.
  A week ago, women would have been beaten publicly, or even executed, 
for these acts. Under the Taliban's rule, women could not work outside 
the home, receive an education, or even leave their home unless 
accompanied by a close male relative--brother, father, or husband.
  The defeat of the Taliban means that Afghan women are now free from 
the Taliban's brutal rule. As we begin the peace process and 
reconstruction of the Afghan Government, we cannot forget about the 
women who, in spite of the Taliban's harsh edicts, risked their lives 
to run home schools and health clinics. That is just not a matter of a 
few words. They actually risked their lives by taking care of sick 
people and teaching kids how to read.
  We have to remember that, prior to the Taliban's rule, Afghan women 
were scientists, professors, Members of Parliament, and university 
professors. They led corporations and nonprofit organizations. In fact, 
women were 70 percent of the nation's schoolteachers, 40 percent of the 
doctors, 50 percent of the civilian government workers, and 50 percent 
of the college students in Kabul.
  These women must play a role in the rebuilding of post-Taliban 
Afghanistan. In particular, the education system must be rebuilt with 
the help of the women, who once comprised the majority of the nation's 
teachers. I hope that we, at the first opportunity, move in an army of 
Peace Corps workers. They will teach people English and how to read 
generally.
  I hope the United Nations will focus on the problems of education in 
Afghanistan. We have to direct our humanitarian aid to the specific 
needs of the Afghan women and girls who suffered major setback after 
major setback as a result of this tyrannic rule. For example, over 90 
percent of Afghan girls are illiterate. Rebuilding the country's 
educational system is the only way to repair the damage Afghan women 
and girls have suffered at the hands of the Taliban. Women will be key 
to this event.
  We also cannot let misconceptions about a very good religion, Islam, 
guide our efforts in the reshaping of a post-Taliban Afghanistan. 
Nowhere does the religion say women cannot be educated or employed. In 
fact, the president of the world's largest Islamic organization in 
Indonesia is a woman.
  As I said, 70 percent of Afghanistan's teachers were women prior to 
the Taliban regime. Afghanistan first adopted a constitution in 1964 
that included universal suffrage, equal rights for women, and 
separation of powers with an independent judiciary. Afghan women were 
members of the judiciary, Parliament, and Cabinet, and 30 percent of 
Afghan's civil service workers were women.
  If we are truly committed to restoring the human rights of the Afghan 
people, and we are, then we must be truly committed to restoring the 
rights of Afghan women because then women will be given from the start 
a seat at the table of the peace process and the establishment of the 
future Government of Afghanistan. Only then will we be truly able to 
secure the rights of the Afghan women.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Carper). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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